Month: March 2018

God never gives up on you. As we journey through Holy Week to Calvary’s Cross, I am reminded of the tremendous love of Jesus Christ and how He willingly died for us so we could have Life.

As the Bible says in John 15:13:
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

God’s Power Resurrects ‘Dead’ Things

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that resurrects the ‘dead’ areas of our lives. Bad habits, bad relationships, bad attitude, low faith – the power of Jesus renews, rejuvenates and transforms. When you are down, the enemy will tell you that this is the best it is going to get and you are useless BUT GOD says it is not over until He says it is and there is a purpose in your life.

Just living in this world can take the energy and enthusiasm out of our outlook on life. In my book, What Just Happened? Living the Redeemed Life (When All Hell Breaks Loose), I tell my own story where I felt my ‘shelf-life’ was expired as my life (and identity) changed all around me. I was so discouraged I considered taking my life – BUT GOD – had another plan. And the same power that raised Jesus from the grave raised my hope and outlook as I looked to the one that created me. God redirected my life during my darkest hour. And now I realize, I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NIV) says:

18I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms”

Same God. Same Power.

Stay Encouraged. You’ve got the Power – just keep seeking the face of God. He resurrects the dead things in our lives. And the great thing is, He does it because He loves us – even the dead parts.

My arms are too short to do God’s work.

As a matter of fact, I don’t have enough arms (or hands, or legs, or eyes etc.) to do God’s work. There is no need to struggle when God has the power. Wait though, you might be asking, ‘isn’t our ministry and service doing God’s work’? Yes, but a different kind of doing. I can be used for God’s work but, I am not God so I cannot DO His work.

What Should I Do?

When struggles happen in our lives, I believe our tendency is to try to figure out the best ways to solve them. There is nothing necessarily wrong with that because God did give us a brain to work with – so thinking logically and strategically are blessings for our usage. It is when we try to step in and do things independent of the Lord or without consulting Him – on our own strength – it is then that trouble starts to stalk us waiting for the right moment to do what it does best and that is to start trouble.

God Is Bigger

I think we risk missing out on blessings bigger than our expectations if we limit God’s movement in our lives. Because of our humanity, we don’t have a perspective that can see over the horizon. But, God can. We can’t see what the ultimate outcome will be – but God can. The concept of ‘Living The Redeemed Life’ is based on having a faith so trusting and a life so aligned with the Spirit that God is glorified as a result of ANYTHING that comes our way – whether it is good or bad. It is letting God do the miraculous when there is no visible path in sight.

Zechariah 4:6-7 (NIV, emphasis added by me) says-

6So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

7 “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”

So today, stop resisting and fighting alone. Just look at your mountain, tell it to move, and then open your life to God’s blessings (and power) with your praise! God Bless It! God Bless It!

Sometimes you need a crew to help you get through life’s challenges.

Doing life alone can leave you feeling helpless. Comparing it to the process it takes to get my house cleaned up, it reminds me of how God works in our lives to get us aligned with His will. Sometimes, it only takes a little spritz of cleaner here (e.g. more prayer) and a vacuum there (devotions). But, when the hard stuff settles in – like the walls need painting and the shingles are falling off – it’s going to take a crew to get things in shape. Be open to others that God uses to help you reach your purpose. Remember though – you must be in a relationship with Him to discern who they are or what you need to do.

Pray with Thanksgiving, Always

Philippians 4:6 says-

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

This verse is a reminder for us as believers to shelve our anxieties in life and to be in the posture of prayer always. Because we tend to focus on our own needs, we sometimes gloss over the last part about presenting our requests to God ‘with thanksgiving’. I’m sure God listens intently to our needs when we pray – maybe to the extent that sometimes He would like to tell us to stop talking for a minute so He can answer – but let’s not lose sight of the context our requests should be made in. Adding ‘thanksgiving’ to our perspective when we run down our list of wants/needs reframes the request.

For example, when asking God to help you financially – if you add ‘thanksgiving’ to the context you are almost forced to think about the things He is already doing in your life. As you ask God to fix a person you are in a relationship with – adding ‘thanksgiving’ forces you to look at the areas of your life that he has changed or is transforming so you can better minister to them. Being thankful forces us to be content while God is working things out in our lives.

Next time you pray – tell God what you want but tell Him with Thanksgiving! 🌻